John was to be born; that so the miraculous manner of his birth might excite the attention of mankind, and dispose them to listen to his voice when it should be heard in the wilderness; and also, that it might prepare them for that great event which was taking place, as the prophet Isaiah had foretold; "A virgin shall conceive, and bear a son." In circumstances parallel with those of St. John, were born, of old, Isaac, and Joseph, and Samson, and Samuel, all of them illustrious forerunners of Messiah, in one or other of his three characters, prophetical, sacerdotal, or regal. And did not Godintend, by so often causing "the barren woman to "keep house, and to become a joyful mother of "children," to make that power known by which the incarnation of the Redeemer and the fruitfulness of his church were to be effected in the latter days, when, according to St. Paul, the prophetical injunction of Isaiah was obeyed, "Sing, O barren, thou "that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child * ?" He who is employed in discharging with fidelity the duties of his calling, takes the surest way to obtain the continuation and increase of his heavenly Master's favours. A son was promised to Zacharias "while he executed the priest's office before God," as the ritual of the church enjoined, "in the order "of his course, and according to the custom'." The reflection of a pious writer upon this circumstance is no less just than beautiful. "One priest alone,"

Isa. liv. 1. Gal. iv. 27.

1 Luke, i. 8, 9.

says he, "intent on his duty, who diffuses the sweet savour of Christ, and is constant in prayer, draws "down on the people more blessings than a great "number of negligent priests. A man ought," continues he, "to discharge all the ecclesiastical func"tions with the spirit of the sacred ministry, as be"fore God, and under his immediate inspection; to perform them in order, in his proper station, with"out ambitiously seeking a higher; to do nothing

merely of his own will, but to observe the well"established customs, as being the necessary secu"rities of peace. This is the truth which these "shadows prefigured, and these the dispositions "worthy a minister of the true temple, which is the "church"."

The annunciation of the Baptist's conception happened at the time of incense, when his father, having put on the robe of honour, and being clothed, like the great Mediator whom he personated, with the garments of glory and beauty, entered into the temple, while the whole congregation of the people, assembled without, sent up their united prayers to be accepted at the throne of grace, through the intercession which was then making for them by the Levitical priest, acting in the name of him who was to arise after the order of Melchisedek, and not "to be called after the order of Aaron".". While the joint prayers of priest and people were thus offered up with the blood of sprinkling and the sweet

m Father Quesnel's Moral Reflections on the New Testament. Heb. vii. 11.

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smelling savour of the holy incense, an angel suddenly appeared to Zacharias as he was executing his office in the temple; that being the place to which those blessed spirits, when they visit these lower regions, ever delight to resort, as bearing the nearest resemblance to the happy mansions from which they descend.

But, whether it be that the glory of celestial spirits overpowers the faculties of human nature, or that man, conscious of having sinned against heaven, naturally trembles at the sight of a messenger from thence, we find the appearance of an angel had the same effect upon Zacharias, the blessed virgin, and the shepherds; they were all "sore afraid." Their minds must be first composed, and put into a capacity of receiving the heavenly tidings brought them by the good angels, who, like good men, manifest themselves by the gracious and encouraging manner of their address, and having removed all misconceived apprehensions, proceed to instruct and comfort those to whom they are sent: "Fear not, “Zacharias; for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife "Elizabeth shall bear thee a son°." Zacharias had prayed for the redemption of Israel by Messiah, and therefore was honoured by being made, in a wonderful manner, the father of his illustrious forerunner. The priest was anxious for the welfare of the church, and the man was blessed in his own private concerns. He sought "first the kingdom of God, and his righ"teousness," and the blessing of a son was "added

• Luke, i. 13.

66

"unto him."-" Thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee " a son, and thou shalt call his name JOHN," that is, being interpreted, the grace or gift; "and many "shall rejoice at his birth:" not only thou shalt rejoice, and Elizabeth with thee, at the birth of a son so long despaired of, and such a son too, but it shall be matter of joy, at the time, to all who look for redemption; and afterwards, thousands and millions shall rejoice at the remembrance of it; the day shall be kept as a festival throughout all generations; with joy and gladness shall it be kept, thanksgiving and the voice of melody. Encouraged by the example of Zacharias, let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, be never weary of waiting for his loving kindness in the midst of his temple. Let it be the delight of their lives to execute their office, every one in that order and station in which he is placed. So will God make them to hear of joy and gladness, and grant them to behold the success of their labours for the conversion of sinners, and the edification of his people. The church, like Elizabeth, shall bring forth fruit in her old age; and her friends shall rejoice greatly when they hear that the Lord hath showed mercy on her ".

Distrust of Providence and the accomplishment of its designs, when appearances are on the other side, will sometimes invade the hearts of the best of men; and Zacharias himself so far partook of the incredulous spirit which at that period had possessed the synagogue, that he "sought after a sign. sign."—"Whereby

P Luke, i. 58.

"shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my "wife well stricken in years." How different, in a parallel case, was the behaviour of his father Abraham, of which St. Paul has left us the following exalted description:-"Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So "shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, "he considered not his own body now dead, neither

yet the deadness of Sarah's womb. He staggered "not at the promise of God through unbelief, but "was strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being

fully persuaded, that what he had promised he was "able also to perform." The demand of Zacharias, however, was complied with, and a sign was granted him in the punishment of his unbelief. The use of that tongue, which, instead of giving glory to God, had been employed in raising objections, was taken from him, and a silence of some months was imposed as a penance for the abuse of speech'.

But when the wonderful child was born, who, even before his birth, entered upon his prophetical office, and gave testimony to his Saviour in the womb, then declaring, by his exultation, what he afterward did by words, "Behold the Lamb of God;" and Zacharias had acknowledged the GIFT of God, by direct

Rom. iv. 18.

Conticescere paulatim oportuit omne Levitici apparatûs Choragium, quod ominoso hoc Sacerdotis silentio prefiguratum est; ut sola Messiæ docentis et benedicentis vox in Ecclesiâ audiretur. -Witsii Miscell. Sacr. II. 494.